Self-oiling pulley



(Nb Model.) 4

D. D. TOMP'KINS. SELF OILING PULLEY l Patell'tedApr. 8. 1890.

6MM/[7441209 @o A l UNITED STATES.

PATENT @rtree-3.

DANIEL I). TOMPKINS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNOR OF` ONEsHALF 'FO C. B. ROGERS & CO., OF NORlVICII, CONNECTICUT.

SELF-OlLING PU LLEY.

SPECIILIGA'IION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,272, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed May` 27, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in t-he county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Oiling Pulleys, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings.

This invention has particular relation to loose pulleys as commonly used in countershaits and various other mechanisms, and has for its immediate object the production of a pulley that shall be for a considerable time selt oiling, thus avoiding the necessity of daily attention. To this end I have produced a pulley so formed that an oil-reservior is provided, and also conduits or feeders connectF ing said reservoir and the shaft on which the pulley rotates.

- the bushing or shell e, and Fig. a is an enlarged view of one of the screw-plugs il, that form the conduits for the passage of oil to the central shaft.

Referring to these drawings, the letter aiudicates a cast-metal pulley formed with the usual rim b to receive a belt, but having its hub c of increased diameter and formed as a thin shell, thus providing a chamber or cavity d that is open to the center of the pulley. Within the central hole of said pulley is a snug-fitting tubular bushing e, that is bored throughout its len gth to fit loosely on the shaft. This bushing, when in place in the pulley, forms the inner wall of the chamber d, in which the oil or other lubricating compound is to be stored.

In order to allow said lubricant to pass. from said reservoir to the axial shaft ot the pulley, I have provided one or more screwplugs, which I will proceed to describe. NVhen the bushing e has been fitted in place in the pulley, I bore from the rim l; inward, passing Serial No. 312,246- (lo model.)

through the wall of chamber d and through the said bushing. The hole in the wall of chamber d is then tapped out to receive a screw-plug t', as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2 ofthe drawings. The outer end of said plug is either slotted to receive a screw-driver or squared, as at 7a, to receive a wrench. Said plug is bored centrally from its inner end and is turned down to lit the hole in the bushing e, thus serving as a dowel to prevent the accidental displacement of said bushing. One or more radial openings m lead outward from the central hole in said plug and provide a means of communication between the chamber d and said central hole. It will now be understood that if the chamber (Z be filled or partially filled Vwith oil said oil will gradually iind its way through the openings m into the central hole of the plug i, and thence to the shaft on which the complete pulley rotates. To prevent` the too rapid discharge of the oil, I prefer to pack the central hole in the screw-plug with wicking, wool, cotton, sponge, or similar material n, which soon becomes saturated with the lubricant. As the oil passes to the shaft from the open end of the plug the oil in chamber d is drawn by capillary attraction through the openings m, and the packing is thus kept saturated until said oil is entirely withdrawn from the reservoir.

I have here shown three of the screw-plugs t', but do not wish to confine myself to' any particular number. Y

My described improvements do not add materially to the cost of the pulley to which they are applied, yet they ettectually accomplish the desired result.

Vhile I have described my improvement 9o as applied to pulleys, the same plan of seltoiling could advantageously be used with vehicle or other wheels that revolve loosely on au axial shaft.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A pulley having its hub chambered, as set forth, in combination with a central tubular bushing fitted therein and conduits connecting said chamber and bushing, said conduits consisting of screw-plugs tapped into the outer wall of the hub-chamber extending IOO through the oil-reservoir and into said bnsh-- throughout a portion of its length and packed ing, all substantially as and for the objects with wicking or similar material, as set forth, 1o

specified. and provided with radial openings m, all sub- 2. In combination with a pulley havingits stantially as and-for the purpose specified. 5 hub chambered, as set forth, a, tubular bush- DANIEL D. TOMPKINS.

ing litt-ed therein and L plug screwed in the VtueSses: v outer Wall of said hub extending; as a doWel ROBT. WV. PERKINS,

into said bushing, said plug being bored FRANK lfl. ALLEN. 

